This was rather startling, but still Matt and McGlory were unable to puzzle out the point Cameron was driving at.
"How could Siwash Charley get hold of the knife?" asked Matt.
"Siwash Charley appeared in this part of the country, from nowhere in particular, some year and a half ago. He was accused of stealing horses, but the crime was never proved against him."
"I'm a Piute," breathed McGlory, "if I can see what Siwash has to do with this Fortescue party."
Without seeming to notice the comment, Cameron went on:
"Cant Phillips may have been concerned in the treachery that has to do with Fortescue's plans. Possibly he met Fortescue in the woods, here to the south of the lake, the day he deserted; that he and Fortescue quarreled; that Phillips felled Fortescue with a blow of the fist and then took the dagger from Fortescue's pocket and completed his work; and then, following that, Phillips may have skipped out with the suit case, the plans—and the dagger."
"But how," said Matt, still puzzled, "could Siwash Charley get the dagger from this man Phillips, assuming that what you guess about the affair is true?"
"I believe," and here Cameron leaned forward and spoke sternly and impressively, "that Cant Phillips and Siwash Charley are one and the same!"
Matt, McGlory, and even Ping were profoundly stirred by this announcement.